Control system particularly for an indicia-bearing web



June 9, 1936. 'K. L. CURTIS 2,043,239

CONTROL SYSTEM PARTICULARLY FOR AN INDICIA BEARING WEB Original Filed June 4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l SHU a TB KN 'UAF mm" GM bus-u WXY AS 27222.2 62; 5.512 772' 2.875 5.42 5.42 2.2m s33, 52

UAFf HHN GM- 5.512 71 2.87% 5.42 5.42 2.i l

INVENTOR jmzeZ/i L. 6 01/ /13 BY W la-M ATTORN EYS June 9, 1936. K. L. CURTIS CONTROL SYSTEM PARTICULARLY FOR AN INDICIA BEARING WEB 3 Shee ts-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 4, 1929 VINVENTOR @llilfiflt L. CLIPZZS m, @49 AM ATTORNEY JumQ, 1936. K. L. CURTIS CONTROL SYSTEM PARTICULARLY FOR AN INDICIA BEARING WEB Original Filed June 4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 002M, 4mg M ATTC'JENEYIS' Patented June 9, 1936 PATENT CONTROL SYSTEM PARTICULARLY FOR AN INDICIA-BEARING WEB Kenneth L. Curtis, New York, N. assignor to Trans-Lux Daylight Picture Screen Corporaltion, New York,.N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June 4, iszaseriai No. 368,318

I Renewed March 6, 1934 13 Claims. (01. 271-43) Myinvention relates to a fiuidpressure control system for, and method of moving an indiciabearing web through a projection field.

My invention, in one of itsprominent phases, involves an arrangement for moving an indiciabearing tape. or web through or with respect to a projection field, such movement, in theappended claims, being described generically as through the projection field. 1 7

My invention provides a control system of simple, economic and practical character for performing-the objects of my invention.

Further advantages, objects and characteristics of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

My invention resides in the control system,

methods, apparatus and features of construction of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an illustration of one use to which the invention is especially adapted, and an illustration of one form of control system constructed in accordance with my invention, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a projection system;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an indicia-bearing web which when in a proper position causes indici images as shown on the screen of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of thescreen shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of mechanism utilizable in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 5 is a side velevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an, enlarged, end velevational view, partly broken away, of a part of the mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

i Fig. 'l is an enlarged, side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of a part of the mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5; and

Fig. '8 is a perspective view'illustrating parts of my mechanism. 3

Referring to Fig. 1,there is illustrated a suitable source of light S herein shown as an incandescent lamp having the usual glass bulb enclosing afllament of any suitable character. A suitable condenser lens L positioned adjacent the source of light S receives light directly therefrom and indirectlyfrom a reflector or mirror M coacting with said source of light S, the light traversing said lens L and, in the example shown, passing along substantially a horizontal path into engagement with a mirror Ml, or equivalent, From the latter, the light passes upwardly, substantially in avertical direction, through a suitable lens Li, a frame or guide member G, a member W, and an objective or projection lens L2. From lens L2, in the exampleshown, the light passes to 5 angularly related mirrors M2 and M3, the latter reflecting the light for passage into engagement with a suitable screen A preferably of translucent material and adapted, therefore. for "through projection, audience are at that side of the screen A opposite the mirror system comprising the mirrors ME and M3.

In the application of my invention herein il lustrated and described, the member W is a tape or web, Fig. 2, of the character utilized in connection with ordinary stock ticker mechanism which prints characters thereon indicative of stock quotations. As hereinafter more particularly described, the web W moves overthe guide 0 G, the latter defining the projection field traverse'd by light to effect the display on the screen A of images of the aforesaid characters, the imslges moving as the web moves, each image appearing, for example, at the left of screen A, Fig.

3, moving thereacross and vanishing from view at the right.

Inaccordance with my invention, the web W is so controlled that the aforesaid images move across the screen A, Fig. 3, at a desired rate of speed. At times, they may remain stationary but, when they move, the movement is smooth and steady, and not jerky.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, there is illustrated ticker mechanism I. This mechanism may be of any suitable character and is herein generally shown as comprising a casing 2 forming an enclosure or housing for suitable actuating mechanism, not shown. Disposed at one sideoi the casing 2 is a reel 3 rotatably mounted and having the blank web wound thereupon. From the reel 3, the web W extends into coacting relation with suitable mechanism d utilizable for printing the aforesaid characters thereon. From the printing mechanism 4, the web W extends over and is supported by the aforesaid guide G which, in the example shown and aslillustrated particularly in Fig. 4, forms an elongated lightpassing passage of suitable length. Disposed above the guide G, theremay be a suitable .1 d0

spring of any suitable character as now known to the art and frictionally coactlng with the web as it passes along said guide.

From the guide G, the web W extends to and partly around a drum 5 rotatable with a hill namely, wherein an observer or 10 shaft 6 suitably journaled in spaced, parallel arms la of a frame I supported as hereinafter described. Preferably, the face of drum 5 is serrated or roughened as indicated in Fig. 6 and coacting therewith, to grip the web W, is a roller 8 carried by a lever 9 mounted on a member illprojecting laterally from an extension lb of the aforesaid frame I, said lever 9 being suitably biased in a counter-clockwise direction, as by a spring II. From the web-gripping structure comprising the drum 5 and roller 8, the web W extends to a reel l2 rotatable on a shaft i3 journaled in the upper end of extension lb of frame I.

Disposed upon a suitable base or support [4 is a suitable motive device l5 herein shown as an electric motor. In the example shown, a plate I6 is secured to members ll projecting from one end of said motor l5. cured to the plate l6, as by bolts or screws I8, is a member l9 having a flanged-or angularly projecting end I So whereby the members l6 and I9 are spaced apart to form a chamber closed except as hereinafter described. As illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the aforesaid frame I is suitably secured to the outer surface of member i9.

Disposed within the chamber formed by members l6, l9 and flange I9a of the latter is a rotatable structure 20 comprising curved propeller blades 20a, said blades 20a, as shown in Fig. 7, having a width only slightly less than the chamber receiving the same. The rotatable structure 20 is mounted on and rotatable with the shaft 2| of the aforesaid motor l5. Shaft 2| of motor I5 also carries a member or disk 22 which is suitably secured thereto for rotatable movement therewith.

As illustrated in Fig. '7, member l9 may comprise an offset enlarged section [9b having an opening in which, preferably, is threaded one end of a cup-shaped member 23, one wall of which carries an elongated member 24 having an opening in which a shaft or rod 25 is slidably received. Shaft 25 extends within the member 23 and carries a second cup-shaped member 26, the circular side wall structure of which nicely fits, in freely slidable relation, within the circular side wall structure of member 23. The cup-shaped member 25 comprises a wall 26a movable toward and from the disk 22, as hereinafter described. Wall 26a and disk 22 constitute ccacting clutch elements and, if desired, one of them, as wall 26a, may carry a facing s rface or ring 21 of leather, or the like.

The aforesaid shaft 6, between the arms la, la of frame 1, has a gear 28 pinned or otherwise suitably secured thereto for movement therewith. Gear 28 is rotatively associated with the aforesaid shaft 25 in any suitable manner. To this end, a worm gear 29 is disposed on the shaft 25 and in meshing relation with the gear 28. Worm gear 29 comprises a bifursated end portion 29a within which is received the finger portion 30a of sleeve 30 pinned, or otherwise suitably fixed to the aforesaid shaft 25. A spiral spring 8| is disposed between shoulders formed, respectively, on the worm gear 29 and sleeve 30.

The end of sleeve 38 forms a stop for worm gear 29 to maintain the latter substantially in the position illustrated in Fig. 7. This action is eifected because worm gear 29 rotates in but one direction, counter-clockwise as the parts are shown in Fig. 7, and, due to the relation of the worm gear teeth and the teeth of gear 28, said Suitably seworm gear 29 tends to move from left to right, Fig. 7 whenever it is rotated. The finger portion 30a remains constantly within the bifurcated end portion 29a so that sleeve 30 is always related, in 'driving relation, to the drum 29. However, spring 3| is effective, unless overcome as hereinafter described, to maintain sleeve 30, shaft 25, and cup-shaped member 26 in the position illustrated in Fig. 7 to cause wall 26a of member 26 to be spaced from disk 22.

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the end of the cupshaped member 26 removed from the wall 26a is open, the interior of said member 26 being placed in communication with the atmosphere, preferably, through an opening 32 in the cupshaped member 23. If desired, a cushioning washer 33 of rubber, or equivalent, may be interposed between otherwise contacting surfaces of the members 23 and 26.

A nipple 34 communicates with the'chamber formed by members I6, I 9 and flange We and, if desired, a bafile plate 35 may be disposed within said chamber opposite the opening of nipple 34. Carried by nipple 34 is one end of a conduitforming member 36, preferably a rubber tube, which extends to a suitably supported conduit 31 positioned adjacent that end of guide G nearest the aforesaid printing mechanism. Conduit 31 terminates in a port 38 open at its end and presenting a flat surface with which the web'Wv slidably engages since the open end of port 38 is closed at times, by the web W as hereinafter described. When the web W traverses a guide G, horizontally disposed as illustrated, the opening through port 38 should be angularly related to a horizontal plane, as illustrated, for example, in Fig. 5.

As illustrated particularly in Fig. 6, the aforesaid shaft 6 has a pulley 40 secured thereto for rotation therewith, said pulley 40 and a second pulley 4| disposed on the reel shaft l3 receiving an endless belt 42 by which motion is transmitted to the reel I2 from shaft 6.

The operation is as follows:

The motor 5 is placed in operation and, in the example shown, it operates continuously as long as the projection system is to function. In response to operation of the motor IS, the rotatable structure 20 causes air to be drawn from the atmosphere through port 38, said air passing first I through the conduits 31 and 36, and then through the nipple 34 into the chamber comprising members l6, l9 and flange l9a. Said chamber is open to the atmosphere through very small openings suitably opening thereinto. Preferably, said openings are formed by inserting spaced paper washers or shims between member l6 and flange I9a. Through these openings, the aforesaid air passes to the atmosphere. So long as the port 38 is open at its end or unobstructed, air passes into the aforesaid chamber along the path described above and is expelled from said chamber through the openings between the flange l9a and member l6. While the mechanism operates in the manner just described, the cup-shaped member 26 remains in the position illustrated in Fig.1 under the influence of spring 3|. At this time, disk 22 is disengaged from wall 26a of mem her 26 and, consequently, the cup-shaped memthe art, to periodically advance the printed web W from the printing mechanism 4 in a jerky or step-by-step manner. At this time, there is no movement .of the web W, along the guide G provided that said web is not immediately adjacent or contacting with the flat face of the port 38. Accordingly, the web W forms a loop which progressively becomes deeper and deeper and eventuaily attains a configuration such as illustrated, for example, by the full line of Fig. 5 where said web W overlies the opening of port 38 andsubstantiaiiy closes the same because formed of substantially non-porous material.

When the port 38 is closed as just described, a partial vacuum resultswithin the chamber formed bymembers l6, l9 and flange I911. This partial vacuum is formed quickly and, when formed, causes movement of the cup-shaped member 26 in a direction from left to right, Fig. 7, against the action of spring 3!. This action occurs because one side of wall 26a of the cup-shaped member 26 is exposed to the atmosphere through opening 32; accordingly, when the pressure on the other side of wall 26a is decreased, movement of the cup-shaped member 26 occurs as just described. In response to'such movement of the cup-shaped member 26, the wall 26a thereof comes into engagement with the constantly rotating disk 22 to thereby frictionally unite or connect member 26 to said disk 22. In this manner, rotation of shaft and worm gear 29 is initiated, rotation of the latter being imparted to the gear 28 and shaft 6, the cup-shaped member 26 rotating within the similar member 23. In response to such rotation of shaft 6, the drum 5 is operated to cause movement of the web W from left to right, Figs. 4 and 5, across the guide G. said web sliding freely across the flat face of port 38. Simultaneously, reel I2 is rotated to wind the web W thereon as it passes beyond said drum 5.

Operation of the drum 5 and reel 12 continues so long as the port 36 is closed by web W and said port 38] thus remains closed so long as said web is moved by drum 5 at substantially the same rate as said web passes from the printing mechanism 4. Should operation of the printing mech anism be temporarily discontinued, as it often is, the drum 5 continues to move the web across the guide G until the aforesaid, loop has been reduced sufficiently to uncover the port 38 as shown, for example, in dotted lines at WI Fig. 5. When the port is uncovered, the pressure within the aforesaid chamber comprising the members l6, l9 and flange l9a abruptly increases and becomes approximately that of the atmosphere. Accordingly, the pressures on opposite sides of the wall 26a become substantially balanced and, as a result, spring 3| moves the cup-shaped member 26 into the position shown inFig. 7 to thereby disconnect wall 26a from disk 22 and to discontinue rotation of the drum 5 and reel I 2, the ring 33, or equivalent, exercising a braking action on said member 26.

Due to the operation last named, movement of the web .W across the guide G is discontinued until the printing mechanism 4 has again operated sufficiently to cause the web to cover the .port 38 whereupon theppemtion described above is repeated.

The drum 5 should be designed to move the web W at a rateof speed which is slightly higher ever, said printing mechanism 4 does not operate at the maximum speed and, during short periods, operation may be entirely suspended. Particularly in the latter case, movement of web W along the guide G ceases after said web has been moved from the port 38.

It may happen that the respective speeds of operation are such that the drum 5 tends to move the web W at a rate of speed only slightly higher than the rate at which said web W issues from the printing mechanism 4. Under such circumstances, the web W opens the port 36 to some extent and, as a result, the rotating cup-shaped member 26 moves into or toward the position shown in Fig. 7. Accordingly, the shaft 25, worm gear 29, gear 28, shaft 6 and drum 6 slow down. If the respective rates of speed are as described immediately above, the resultant decreased speed of web movement across the guide G almost immediately permits the web loop to be deepened suificiently to cover the port 36. As a. result, the member 26 moves from left to right, Fig. 7, into engagement with disk 22 before rotation thereof has entirely ceased and before movement of the web along guide G has entirely ceased. 5

However, it shall be understood that the braking action of ring 33 may be such as is suitable or desirable, and, further, the operation may be such that the web Wis moved a substantial distance from the port 36 when nism is opened.

As stated above, when the printing operation is suspended for a fraction of a minute, as it often is, or for more than a fraction of a minute,

the clutch mechathe drum 5 continues to operate until the port 35 36 is uncovered whereupon rotation thereof is discontinued. When this happens, said drum 6 does not again operate until the port 38 has been again covered by the web W in response to renewed operation of the printing mechanism 4.

The rotatable structure 20 comprising the propeller blades 20:; should be so designed and the combined area of the openings between the flange l9a. and member It should bear such ratio to the area of the passage in port 36 that, with the latter open, air passes along the path defined above without substantial change or low ering of pressure in the chamber defined by members it, is and flange its. At the same time the arrangement should be such that, when the port so is closed by the web, the air pressure within the aforesaid chamber becomes sufliclently low within the proper time to cause the described movement of the cup-shaped member it.

Furthermore, the arrangement should be such that the suction effect on the web W at the flat face of port 38 is not sufficiently great to damage the web material, to draw the same into the passageoi said port 38, or toimpede, to an uniwarranted degree, movement of said web along the flat face of said port it.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described in connection with a tape or web on which characters are printed, it sha l be un derstood that my invention-is not to be so tim ited. Thus, said characters may be formed on atape or web otherwise than by a printing op eration. Furthermore, the tape or web mayhem" other representations, figures, or the lift besides numbers and letters, all of which, in the appended claims are generically termed"indicia". Still further, a suitable surface or member other than a tape or web bearing indicia may be utilined in accordance with my invention, and said tape, web, surface or member may be utilized otherwise, if desired, than by passage of a light beam therethrough. Thus, for example, the projection may be such as is known to the art as opaque or light-reflecting projection.

It will be observed that among other advantages, the invention permits of the use of a single continuously running motor or motive device not requiring automatic control contacts, and it acts to draw air through the port 38 and to operate the drum 5 and reel l2. The invention thus reduces cost of construction and maintenance besides insuring the desired control of the web. As stated, the organization comprising said motor involves clutch mechanism comprising the disk 22 and wall 26a of cup-shaped member 26. It should be clearly understood that clutch mechanism such as shown or an equivalent thereof may be utilized otherwise than as herein illustrated. Thus, for example, the lever 9 may be suitably moved, in a clockwise direction, Fig. 5, in response to change of air pressure as effected by the web W at port 38, when it is desired to discontinue movement of the web along the guide G.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In the art of controlling movement of an indicia-bearing web movable at a non-uniform rate prior to passage thereof through a projection field, the method which comprises producing by a continuously operating motive device a suction efiect varying in accordance with the non-uniform rate of web movement, and utilizing said motive device to move said web through said projection field in accordance with said suction efiect.

2. In a system for controlling movement of an indicia-bearing web, the combination with a motive device, mechanism operated by said motive device for moving said web through a projection field, and pneumatically actuated clutch means for connecting or disconnecting said mechanism to or from said motive device, of means operated by said motive device for passing air through a conduit, said web being movable to a position for checking the passage of air through said conduit to thereby control said clutch means to connect said mechanism to said motive device.

3. In a system for controlling movement of an indicia-bearing web, the combination with a motive device, mechanism operated by said motive device for moving said web through a projection field, and pneumatically actuated clutch means for connecting or disconnecting said mechanism to or from said motive device, of means operated by said motive device for passing air through a conduit by suction, said web being movable to a position for checking the passage of air from the atmosphere into said conduit to thereby control said clutch means to connect said mechanism to said motive device.

4. In a system for controlling movement of an indicia-bearing web, the combination with a motive device, mechanism operated. by said motive device for moving said web through a projection field, and clutch means for connecting or disconnecting said mechanism to or from said motive device, said clutch means comprising coacting members biased apart, of means operated by said motive device for passing air through a conduit, said web being movable to a position for checking the passage of air through said conduit to thereby effect engagement between said coacting members of said clutch means.

5. In a system of the character described, a motive device, mechanism operated by said motive device for moving a web through a projection field, clutch means, and pneumatic control means actuating said clutch means to connect or disconnect said mechanism to or from said motive device, said pneumatic control means having a port opening in the path traversed by said web. said web cooperating with said port opening to control said pneumatic control means.

6. In a system of the character described, a motor, and suction-controlled mechanism for causing said motor to pull a character-bearing tape through a projection field in accordance with change in configuration of a tape loop at the entrance to said projection field, said mechanism comprising a. housing having a suction port adapted to be more or less covered by an adjacent section of the tape loop, means for withdrawing air from saidhousing, a cylinder, a conduit connecting said housing and cylinder, and a piston movable in said cylinder in response to change in coverage of said suction port by the adjacent tape section.

7. In a system of the character described, a motor, tape-pulling means, and suction-controlled mechanism for causing said motor to pull a character-bearing tape through a projection field in accordance with change in configuration of a tape loop at the entrance to said projection field, said mechanism comprising a housing having a suction port adapted to be more or less covered by an adjacent section of the tape loop, means for withdrawing air from said housing, a cylinder, a conduit connecting said housing and cylinder, and a piston movable in said cylinder inresponse to change in coverage of said suction port by the adjacent tape section, said piston serving as a clutch element for connecting said tape-pulling means to said motor.

8. In a system of the character described, a motor, mechanism operated by said motor, clutch means, pneumatic control means actuating said clutch means to connect or disconnect said mechanism to or from said motor, and means comprising said motor for operating said pneumatic control means.

9. In a system of the character described, a motor, mechanism operated by said motor, clutch means, said clutch means comprising a chamber and a member freely slidable therein, said memher being coactable with a constantly rotating member operated by said motor, pneumatic control means actuating said clutch means to connect or disconnect said mechanism to or from said motor, and means comprising said motor for operating said pneumatic control means.

10. In a system of the character described, a motor, mechanism operated by said motor, clutch means, said clutch means comprising a chamber and a member freely slidable therein, said member being coactable with a constantly rotating member operated by said motor, and pneumatic control means actuating said clutch means to connect or disconnect said mechanism to or from said motor, said pneumatic control means comprising a chamber receiving a fan rotor operated by said motor.

11. In a system of the character described, a motor, mechanism operated by said motor, clutch means, said clutch means comprising a chamber and a member freely slidable therein, said member being coactable with a constantly rotating member operated by said motor, and pneumatic control means actuating said clutch means to connect or disconnect said mechanism to or from said motor, said pneumatic control means comprising a chamber receiving a fan rotor operated by said motor, said pneumatic control means further comprising a conduit for admitting air to Said chamber.

12. In a system of the character described, a motor, mechanism operated by said motor, clutch means, said clutch means comprising a chamber prising a chamber receiving a tan rotor operated by said motor, said pneumatic control means further comprising a conduit for admitting air to said chamber at a varying rate, and tape-controlling means for varying the rate at which air passes through said conduit.

13. In a system 01' the character described, a motor, mechanism operated by said motor for pulling a tape through a projection field, clutch means, said clutch means comprising a chamber and a member freely slidable therein, said member being coactable with a constantly rotating member operated by said motor, pneumatic control means actuating said clutch means to connect or disconnect said mechanism to or from said motor, said pneumatic control means comprising a chamber receiving a fan rotor operated by said motor, said pneumatic control means further comprising a conduit for admitting air to said chamber, and means controlled by said tape for varying the rate at which air passes through said conduit.

KENNETH L. CURTIS. 

